KDA notice to Flipkart on use of Kannada

KDA said it has taken note of what it calls Flipkart's noncompliance in providing jobs to outsiders against C&D group posts.BENGALURU: The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) on Thursday issued a notice to e-commerce giant Flipkart, asking it to provide details about the number of its employees, composition of Kannadidags in the firm's workforce, and steps taken to teach Kannada to those who don't know the language. KDA has sought the information within 15 days.

In a notice addressed to Sachin Bansal, chairman, Flipkart Internet Private Limited, KDA secretary K Muaralidhara emphasized that as per recommendations of the Dr Sarojini Mahishi Committee re port, it is mandatory that the company conducts all its business in the local language and also provides jobs to local Kannadigas on priority. The notice also stresses on the point that the organization has to take steps to see that its staff do business with Kannadigas in the local language.

The authority said it had received numerous complaints stating that the staff at Flipkart answer either in English or Hindi even when locals make queries in Kannada, and that they don't do business with people who converse in Kannada.

KDA said it has taken note of what it calls Flipkart's noncompliance in providing jobs to outsiders against C&D group posts. This despite laws specifying that locals have to be recruited against those posts.